Radio aerial



Malyl 25, 1943 v w. E.HA N`N RADIO AERIAL Filed Dc. 30, 1940 5 yINVENTOR Patented May 25, 1943 AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIO AERIALWilliam Edward Hann, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 30, 1940, Serial No. 372,230

8 Claims.

This invention relates to extensible and retractible radio aerialsparticularly suited for motor vehicles and the like.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an antenna which maybe extended and retracted by utilizing a source of vacuum from the motorof the vehicle upon which it is mounted; to provide an extensible andretractible antenna in which the actuating member does not affect thecapacity of the antenna to accumulate radio energy; to provide anantenna of this character in which all of the sections thereof may beextended by power; to provide a power actuated extensible andretractible radio antenna in which the power actuating unit may belocated in various different places, wherever space is available, andmay be remotely located with respect to the antenna; to provide a poweractuated extensible and retractible antenna which may be mounted on anymake and design of automobile body, regardless of side Wall spacesadjacent the point of mounting; to provide an antenna in which the powercylinder may be of relatively large diameter and length and yet whichmay be mounted on any automobile.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be eitherspecically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of my invention, to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken sectional view of an automotive vehicle having anantenna and a raising and lowering device for the aerial thereofembodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional View of the structure illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1,showing. a modified form thereof; and,

Fig. 4 is a view of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2,showing a further form which my invention may assume.

'In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a portion of an automobile body 5 whichmay be a fender, a side or cowl panel, or the like, and a floor 6, onthe former of which an antenna 1 is mounted, while under thev floor Ihave illustrated an operating mechanism 8 for raising the aerialthereof. The antenna is mounted by suitable means herein illustrated asa bracket 9 and an insulating rubber collar Il. The operating mechanism8 embodies acylinder which is maintained in position by suitable means,herein illustrated as by straps l2. The operating mechanism is joined bya flexible tube I3 to the casing of the antenna 1, the fiexible tube andthe operating mechanism being shielded by the body of the vehicle.

In antennas provided with means for raising the aerial thereof andlowering it within the confines of the body, diiiiculty has beenexperienced in view of the capacitance added to the aerial by thehelically wound flexible tube projected with the aerial. For thisreason, and resulting mechanical diniculties, only one joint of theaerial was Iprojected from the body by the actuating mechanism. Theadditional capacity provided in the aerial by the projection of thecoiled wire thereinto detracted from rather than increased therespective capacity of the radio. When practicing my present invention,I eliminate the use of the helical wire from the aerial portions whichextends from the supporting base and employ a metal or a flexibledi-electric element as the actuating instrumentality. The helical tubejoining the actuating cylinder to the antenna base is insulated from theantenna and the body of the vehicle provides a shield which prevents anychange in the capacity of the antenna.

Referring to Fig. 2, the operating mechanism 8 embodies a cylinder I4 ofa length sufficient to provide movement to a piston l5 to raise all ofthe jointed sections of the aerial to their full extent. The piston isdouble acting, embodying a central stem I6 on which a pair of cupwashers I1 having their flanges presenting toward the cylinder ends aremounted, on either side of a central spool I8. The assembly is clampedin position by a pair of shouldered washers I9 disposed between a flange2l on the end of the stem I6 and a pin 22 extending through an aperturein the opposite end thereof.

A suitable cap 23, not herein illustrated in detail, is threaded orotherwise secured to the right hand end of the cylinder I4 as viewed inthe figure, while a similar cap 24 is threaded in the opposite end andprovided with a central aperture 25. A ilexible actuating rod 26 has oneend projected in an aperture 21 in the stem I6 and secured therein bysuitable means, herein illustrated as by a set screw 28. The exibleactuating element 26 is preferably made of an extruded di-electricmaterial which may be sealed in the apertures 25 by a resilient sealingband 29. A hollow slotted extension 3l is provided on the front end ofthe cap 24 in which the end of a exible casing 32 is secured. The tubingis formed from a coiled wire, the end of which projects within the endof the extension 3l and is secured therein by 4a clamping ring 33 whichdraws the split sides of the extension 3| together to securely anchorthe end of the iiexible tubing.

The antenna 1 includes an aerial made up of a central section 34, and anouter cylindrical section 35. A tubular casing 36 of the antennasupports the aerial and, as pointed out hereinabove, is attached to thevehicle body by the bracket 9 and the insulating washer I I. The casing36 supports a guide bushing 31 at its upper end While the aerial section35 is provided with an annular bushing 33 which bears on the wall of thecasing below the bushing 31. The bushings 31 and 38 provide stability tothe aerial. An insulating collar 39 is mounted within the casing 36, atthe bottom thereof, having an inwardly extending lip 4| through whichthe flexible rod 26 extends and against which the end of the aerialsection 34 abu'ts when lowered. The end of the exible tube 32 projectswithin the insulating collar 39 and is secured in position by a band 42which clamps about the end of the casing 36. The casing 36 and collar 39are split so as to be drawn tightly about the upper end of the flexibletube 32.

A stem 44 is threaded into the end of the flexible element 26, theopposite end being threaded in the end of the aerial section 34 andretained in position by a lock washer 45. It will be noted that theoperating device 8 and the exible tube 32 are entirely insulated fromthe aerial at all times so that its capacity is not changed when theaerial is extended. At each end of the cylinder I4, pipe connections 46are mounted to which a rubber hose or other conductor is connected. AValve (not shown) controls the application of pressure to one or theother ends of the cylinder, by direct application of pressure or by theuse of a vacuum. With the piston at the right hand end of the cylinder,as illustrated in Fig. 1, vacuum is applied through the front pipeconnection 46 and the piston will move to the front end of the cylindermoving the flexible rod 26 forwardly through the flexible tube 32 toraise the aerial section 34 which, when extended its full length, picksup the aerial section 35 and moves it upwardly along therewith. Byreversing the valve the piston is moved to its original position withthe resulting lowering of the aerial sections.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a further form of my invention forproducing the extension of the aerial sections. A tube 50 is employedhaving a sweeping curve portion 5I in which a piston 52 may operate. Thepiston is preferably made up of individual sections comprising buttons53 against which cup washers 54 abut when maintained in position byshouldered washers 55. A tapered opening 56 is preferably provided inthe buttons 53 for the purpose of permitting the two sections of thepiston to deect relative to each other as the piston moves through thesweeping curve portion 5I. A sealing element 51 is provided in theshouldered washer 55 for the purpose of sealing the wire 58 therewith.The Wire 58 -extends through a Iiexible tube 59 of conventional form andprojects into an aperture 6I within the end of the aerial section 34 andis soldered, brazed, or otherwise secured in xed relation thereto.

The tubular aerial section 62 carries a guiding washer 63 on its end forthe purpose of providing stability to the antenna When raised, thelength of the upwardly extending portion of the tube 50 being suiTicientto have the washer 63 disposed outside of the sweeping curve portion 5Iwhen the antenna is in lowered position. A cap 64 encases theend of thetube through which the aerial section 62 projects and in which a sealingelement 65 is preferably provided. The washer 63 has radial openings 66through which air or other uid for producing the piston actuation maypass. A pipe connection 68 is provided on the upper end of the cylinder5D while a similar connection is mounted on the opposite end thereofthrough which fluid passes to and from the cylinder ends.

W'hen the antenna sections 34 and 62 are in their lowcrmost position,the piston 52, disposed at the right hand end of the cylinder, is drawnagainst the flexible tube 59 and the wire 58 is pulled taut through thepiston whereupon the clamping collar 'I0 is secured to the end of theWire to lock the aerial, the piston, the wire and the flexible tube 59in adjusted unit relation,

This construction produces the raising of both sections of the aerialbut is objectionable as the introduction of the helical flexible tube 59within the aerial section 62 changes the capacity thereof. As noted indot and dash lines, the curve portion 5I may be less than 90 degrees asillustrated at 69 or formed into a U curve as illustrated at 1I.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a method of raising the aerial sections 34and 35 without materially effecting the capacity of the antenna whileeliminating the use of the flexible di-electric operate ing element 26.A wire 12 similar to the wire 58 is supported within the length of thecylinder I4 by a plurality of washers 15 which prevent the wire fromflexing materially within the tube. The washers are spaced apredetermined distance apart and are joined by one or more flexiblecables 16 which are secured to the washers by solder 11 or other means,to the ange 2| of the stem I 6 and to the operating end of the cylinder.

In operation the piston I5 moves forwardly and picks up the washerswhich are moved along therewith as the wire is advanced through theflexible tube 32 to the antenna section 34 which, along with section 35,is raised thereby. Upon reverse movement of the piston the cables 16pick up the washersand distribute them evenly along the tube to beavailable to prevent the collapse of the Wire 12 when the piston isagain moved forwardly. The flexible tube 32 and the casing are shieldedbeneath the body of the motor vehicle and any changes in capacity whichoccur from the introduction of the wire within the aerial section 35which wouldbe slight. A suitable lead-in wire (not herein illustrated)joins the antenna to the radio.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments cfmyinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges, omissions, additions andsubstitutions may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as setforth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an extensibleaerial, an insulated antenna comprising a pluralityof telescoping sections, a cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder,and a flexible shaft of dielectric materialrconnecting said piston tosaidantenna, whereby differential pressures on opposite sides of saidpiston will move said piston and thereby actuate said antenna.

2. In an extensible aerial for an automobile, a housing adaptedto-bemounted on the automobile body and insulated therefrom, a rod-likeantenna axially slidable in said housing, apressure cylinder, apistonslidable in said cylinder, a shaft of dielectric material connectingsaid piston and antenna, and means for insulating said cylinder fromsaid housing, whereby differential pressures on opposite sides of saidpiston will move said piston and thereby slide said antenna relative tosaid housing.

3. In an extensible aerial for an automobile, a housing adapted to bemounted on the automobile body and insulated therefrom, a rod-likeantenna axially slidable in said housing, a pressure cylinder, a pistonslidable in said cylinder, a flexible shaft of dielectric materialconnecting said piston and antenna, and means for insulating saidcylinder from said housing, whereby differential pressures on oppositesides of said piston will move said piston and thereby slide saidantenna relative to said housing.

4. In an extensible aerial for an automobile, a housing adapted to bemounted on the automobile body and insulated therefrom, a rod-likeantenna axially slidable in said housing, a pressure cylinder, a pistonslidable in said cylinder, a flexible member connecting said piston andantenna, said member being of dielectric material and adapted totransmit forces by tension and compression, and means for insulatingsaid cylinder from said housing, whereby.differential pressures onopposite sides of said piston will move said piston and thereby slidesaid antenna relative to said housin-g.

5. In an extensible aerial for an automobile, an antenna, a cylinder, apiston slidable in said cylinder, a flexible shaft comprising an innertension member and an outer compression member surrounding said innermember, said inner member being connected to said piston and saidantenna for transmitting tension forces, said outer member abutting saidantenna and said] piston for transmitting compression forces,

whereby differential pressures on opposite sides of said piston willmove said piston and thereby extend and retract said antenna.

6. In an extensible aerial, an antenna, a cylinder having a portion witha curved axis, a piston slidable in said cylinder, said pistoncomprising two piston sealing members in axially spaced relation to eachother, and flexible means for coupling said sealing members so as topermit movement in a curved cylinder while maintaining sealed relationwith the side wall thereof, and a flexible shaft connecting said pistonto said antenna, whereby differential pressures on opposite sides ofsaid piston will move said piston and f thereby actuate said antenna.

'7. In an extensible aerial for an automobile, a mounting housing, anatenna movably mounted on said housing, antenna moving power meansremotely located with respect to said housing, a flexible housingconnecting said mounting housing to said power means, means forinsulating said mounting housing from said power means and a dielectricmember actuated by said power means and connected to said antenna forextending and retracting said antenna.

8. In an extensible aerial for an automobile, a housing adapted to bemounted on the automobile body and insulated therefrom, an antennaslidably mounted on said housing and comprising an outer tubuluarsection, an inner section telescoping within said outer section, aflexible dielectric actuating member attached to said inner section andadapted to be housed within said outer section when said sections areextended, andan antenna moving power means connected to said actuatingmember.

WILLIAM EDWARD HANN.

